Iran frees teen held for reciting Kurdish poetry, father still detained
Iran expands crackdown on alleged spies, collaborators with Israel, US
Trump says scheduled new nuclear talks with Iran
Pezeshkian accuses Israel of assasination attempt, 'destroying' US-Iran diplomacy
Iran arrests 900 since start of Israel war: watchdog
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian intelligence forces have released 14-year-old Kezhal Salehi three days after she was detained for reciting Kurdish poetry, a watchdog said on Thursday. Her father remains in custody.
'Kezhal Salehi, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl from the village of Naveh in Bojnurd, North Khorasan Province, was temporarily released after three days in detention,' stated the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization.
The girl's father, Araz Salehi, remains in detention. He was arrested on Tuesday.
'Security forces raided her parents' home in an attempt to arrest her. When they failed to locate her, they detained her father instead. A few hours later, Kezhal was arrested at a separate location,' Hengaw said.
Kezhal was arrested after reciting Kurdish poems in praise of Kurdistan at several cultural events. Her performances drew widespread support and went viral on social media among the Kurdish population in Iran.
According to information received by Hengaw, on the evening of Tuesday, July 15, 2025, forces from the Intelligence Department in Bojnurd, North Khorasan province, raided the home of 14-year-old Kazhal Salehi with the intention of arresting her.
Hengaw has learned that Kazhal… pic.twitter.com/uZJWHBTN7I
— Hengaw Organization for Human Rights (@Hengaw_English) July 15, 2025
Intelligence forces confiscated all mobile phones and electronic devices during a search of the family's home and ordered all family members to report for interrogation, according to Hengaw.
Iran's constitution recognizes Persian as the official language but allows for the use of 'regional and tribal languages' in the press and mass media, and for teaching the literature of those languages in schools. Kurdish teachers and activists have long campaigned for the implementation of this right, but many continue to be arrested for their efforts to promote and teach the Kurdish language.
Since Israel's attack on Iran last month and their 12-day war, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 318 Kurds, in addition to many others across the country, according to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
4 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Clashes continue in Suwayda, death toll passes 900: Watchdog
Also in Syria Syrian president confirms truce as state forces enter Suwayda US announces Israel-Syria ceasefire following deadly clashes in Suwayda Syria to deploy 'specialized force' to end Suwayda clashes Damascus denies forces re-entered Druze area A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Clashes have continued between Druze fighters and tribal groups in Syria's southern province of Suwayda, pushing the death toll to over 900 despite an internationally sponsored ceasefire announced earlier in the day, a watchdog stated on Saturday. There are 'renewed clashes in the western neighbourhoods of Al-Suwaidaa city between tribesmen and local gunmen from the Druze community following the breach of the international-sponsored ceasefire agreement which was reached today,' stated the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). 'The number of fatalities in armed clashes, exchange of bombardment, extrajudicial executions and Israeli airstrikes in different Syrian provinces… has increased to 940,' the monitor stated. The violence between armed Druze groups and Bedouin tribes began on Sunday. On Saturday morning, Washington's Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack announced that the United States had brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. Israel has come out in support of the Druze and hit several targets, including Syrian state forces and an airstrike on the building of the defence ministry in Damascus. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa confirmed the agreement that includes the deployment of state security forces to Suwayda. Government forces had pulled out of the province on Wednesday. Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that controls the northeast of the country (known to Kurds as Rojava), praised the efforts that led to a ceasefire, describing them as vital steps 'in support of civil peace.' Elham Ahmed, co-chair of Rojava's Foreign Relations Office, in a post on X on Saturday, expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Suwayda, where civilians, she said, 'face severe hardship due to siege and deteriorating conditions.' She said the Rojava administration is ready to open a humanitarian corridor to Suwayda. Opening humanitarian corridors is part of the ceasefire agreement, Syrian Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said on Saturday. The ceasefire plan, according to the minister, consists of three phases: the initial deployment of internal security forces to de-escalate clashes and secure key routes, followed by the opening of humanitarian corridors between Daraa and Suwayda to allow the evacuation of civilians and wounded, and finally, the gradual reactivation of state institutions and full restoration of law and order. 'This is the path Suwayda needs after months of tension and exhaustion,' Mustafa said.
Shafaq News
7 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran demands genuine US intent for return to nuclear diplomacy
Shafaq News – Tehran Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed on Saturday that his country remains wary of US intentions to revive nuclear negotiations. In an interview with China's CGTN on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Araghchi stressed that any return to talks must be rooted in sincerity and a mutual commitment to a 'win-win solution.' Araghchi cited the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as proof that a negotiated solution is achievable, confirming that a return to the table depends on Washington abandoning coercive tactics and committing to a diplomatic path. Reiterating Tehran's conditions for reengaging in nuclear diplomacy—especially in light of recent Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, he condemned the attacks as 'unprovoked aggression,' asserting, 'We had no way but to exercise our right to self-defense. We responded decisively, forced the aggressors to halt their campaign, and accepted their request for an unconditional ceasefire.' Still, Araghchi cautioned that the truce remains ' fragile,' accusing Israel of routinely violating ceasefire agreements. 'We are very careful,' he warned, pointing out that Iran did not start the war and does not seek its continuation, but is fully prepared if it resumes.
Rudaw Net
8 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
PM Barzani receives US chargé d'affaires
Also in Kurdistan Drone attack kills one in Penjwen PUK pushes for new KRG cabinet before Iraq's November vote Child among 4 dead in Sulaimani traffic accident KRG deputy PM calls on Turkey to lift Sulaimani flight ban A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday received the United States Chargé d'Affaires to Baghdad Steven Fagin for discussions on financial entitlements, security concerns, and formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). 'Both sides emphasized the urgent need for the federal government to promptly send the Kurdistan Region's salaries and financial entitlements, and to resume oil exports via the Turkish port of Ceyhan without further delay,' read a statement from the KRG. Iraq's Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a new financial agreement with the KRG, paving the way for the resumption of salary payments to the Region's public employees and the restart of Kurdish oil exports, which have been suspended for more than two years. The US State Department said on Saturday that the resolution of Erbil-Baghdad tensions over oil exports and finances would signal that the Iraqi government is committed to creating a suitable investment environment. During the meeting, Fagin 'reaffirmed the United States' firm support for a strong, stable, and federal Kurdistan Region. Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude for Washington's continued commitment and partnership,' the statement said. In recent weeks, oil fields and energy infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region have come under drone attacks, which stopped after Erbil and Baghdad announced their new agreement. Barzani and Fagin strongly condemned the attacks and called 'for an immediate end to these acts of sabotage,' according to the Kurdish statement. They also discussed the formation of Kurdistan Region's next cabinet. Although parliamentary elections were held on October 20, 2024, negotiations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), of which Barzani is a member, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on forming a power-sharing government have dragged on for nine months. The parliament has convened only once in that time. Barzani and Fagin both noted the importance of forming the cabinet before Iraq's parliamentary elections set for November 11.
